Microbial Degradation of Poultry Feather Wastes under the Influence of Temperature and pH – A Review

Abstract

Poultry feathers require different approaches of disposal. Feather waste represents a huge resource of protein and the rational utilization of millions of tons of waste feathers will not only ease the shortage of protein resources but will also improves the environment. Conventional methods used for disposing or converting them to protein hydrolysates such as land filling, incineration, burning or the use of chemicals are costly, not environmentally friendly, and pose a danger to living organisms. Microbial hydrolysis is considered an alternative environmental- friendly method for recycling. As physiological and nutritional factors greatly affect feather degradation and keratinase production, the effects of various factors such as incubation temperature and pH on feather degradation by various microorganisms were reviewed in this study. Based on the various studies reported earlier involving microorganisms to degrade poultry feather and keratinase production, biodegradation of feathers is found to be an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for bioconversion of feather waste into useful products. The use of keratinolytic microorganisms to degrade poultry feather has emerged as a sustainable and alternative tool to sustainable use of feather waste.